A Hindu businessman in Bangladesh has died from horrific injuries sustained in a mob attack on New Year's Eve, in an incident his family claims was religiously motivated.
A Brutal New Year's Eve Assault
Khokon Chandra Das, a 50-year-old entrepreneur, was attacked with sharp weapons and doused in petrol before being set alight as he returned home from his pharmacy and mobile banking business on Wednesday, 31 December. The assailants reportedly fled the scene after the attack.
In a desperate bid to survive, Das managed to jump into a nearby pond, which helped extinguish the flames that had engulfed his head and face. He was first taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a larger facility in the capital, Dhaka, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Family Points to Religious Motive
His wife, Seema Das, has publicly stated that the attackers were Muslim and that her husband was targeted after identifying two of them. "We have no dispute with anyone on any issue," she told media. "We don't understand why my husband was suddenly targeted." She has appealed to both local police and the Bangladeshi authorities for justice.
This killing is not an isolated event. Human rights groups have reported a worrying escalation in violence against Hindus in Bangladesh under the current interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
A Troubling Pattern of Violence
Just weeks earlier, in December, a garment worker named Dipu Chandra Das was also brutally killed and set on fire after being accused of blasphemy. On the same day, mobs targeted the offices of major newspapers The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.
Furthermore, in a separate district, another Hindu man was reportedly beaten to death in a lynching. These events have drawn international condemnation and concern.
India, Bangladesh's neighbour, has expressed "serious concerns" regarding the persistent hostility towards minorities and stated it is closely monitoring the situation.
While the Bangladeshi government has issued statements affirming its commitment to protecting minorities, the interim administration has previously downplayed the scale of the violence. In October 2025, Muhammad Yunus dismissed such reports as "fake news".
The death of Khokon Chandra Das adds another tragic chapter to a series of attacks that raise urgent questions about the safety and security of religious minorities in the country.
